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Minister of Defence Tsahkna: NATO combat groups ensure the peace

16. February 2017 - 14:55

The ministers of defence of the countries deploying NATO battalion combat groups arriving in the Baltic Sea region and the host countries. Front row: U.S. Secretary of Defense and minsters of defence from Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom. Back row: Ministers of defence of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Late last night at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Minister of Defence Margus Tshakna discussed the deployment of NATO combat groups in NATO border countries with his colleagues.

“The objective of moving NATO combat groups to border countries is to maintain peace and stability across the whole of NATO’s territory," said Minister of Defence Tsahkna. “The deployment of combat groups is taking place according to plan. “The command element for the United Kingdom’s combat group is already in Estonia, with tanks and infantry fighting vehicles arriving in April.”

The core member of the NATO international battalion arriving in Estonia is the United Kingdom, with Canada serving as the core member in Latvia, Germany in Lithuania, and the United States in Poland.

Minister of Defence Margus Tsahkna is participating in a two day meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.

Subject related news

Minister of Defence Jüri Luik met today with the Swedish Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist, and General Micael Byden, Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. The defence ministers discussed the security situation that has developed in the Baltic Sea region, the start of the Zapad training exercise, and the topic of Aurora.

General Darren W. McDew, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, and Jonatan Vseviov, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, discussed questions regarding the deployment of forces in Europe at their meeting.